Mouse trap



March 1,- 1938. 'H R, GRAYBILL `2,109,481

MOUSE TRAP Filed May 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2A lf-f/cltzggg. 73 76" my EER-Gawain,

Patented Mar. l, 1938 PATENT ori-lcs MOUSE TRAP Hershey Roy Graybill, Manheim, Pa., assignor to Animal Trap Company of America, Lititz, Pa.

Application May 10, 1935, Serial No. 20,840

15 Claims.

This invention relates to mouse traps. A primary object of the invention is to provide a construction which greatly facilitates manul facture and assembly of the several parts of the device in the respect that no iastenings such as nails, staples', screws or the like are used, and wherein all of the parts may be separately made or pre-formed and subsequently assembled on a base, all of the said parts being held in operative position by a single element, namely an elastic member which also provides the necessary spring for controlling the snapping oi the bow or jaw of the trap.

Another object of the invention is to provide av construction which lends itself to methods of manufacture involving molding or stamping operations, thereby greatly reducing the cost oi original manufacture. In that connection, it is proposedto provide a structure wherein the parts may be molded or die cast from any suitable material such as a phenolic condensation product, porcelain, glass, Celluloid, vegetable fibre or any material that may be die cast or molded.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trap wherein the power means for actuating the bow or jaw is located at the forward end ofthe base, namely the end where the animal is caught, and acts with a forward pull.

A further object is to provide a trap construcf tion which requires no special locking device for holding the bow or jaw in its set position. That is to say, the bow or jaw is so mounted on the base that the elastic means is connected eccentrically thereto, and when the bow or jaw is manually moved toward the rear of the base it is automatically held in its set position. The mere act of thus setting the bow or jaw also simultaneously positions the combined trigger and bait pan so that when the rodent actuates thesame, movement of the bow or jaw is initiated and subsequently completed by the elastic means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction wherein all of the parts are'readily detachable, and which also permits i" of an elastic band such as a rubber band being used as the spring means or power means for actuating or controlling the bow.

'With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature oi the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the trap in its sprung position.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View of the trap in its set position.

Figure 3 is a plan view'of the base.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the base.

Figure 5 is a rear end elevation of the base.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the jaw or bow.

Figures 7 and 8 are respectively plan and side views of the combined bait pan and trigger.

Figure 9 is a perspective View of a modied form of construction.

Figure l0 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the construction shown in Figure 9.

vFigure 1l is a perspective View of another modification of the invention.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a perspective view oi a still further modified form of the invention.

Figure 14 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Figure 13.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several iigures of the drawings.

According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 of the drawings, the trap includes in its organization, a base designated generally as A, a bow or jaw B, an actuator C and a power element D.

The base is preferably made of any suitable moldable material, that is a plastic materialY which may be made by a molding or die casting operation. Medially of the base, adjacent the sides thereof, there is provided the upstanding pivot lugs 2-2 while at one side of the lugs, namely toward the forward end of the base,

the upper surface thereof is recessed as indicated at 3. The lower side of the base may'be provided with a transverse bottom groove 4 adjacent the front or anvil end 5.

The upstanding medial lugs 2-2 are provided at their inner sides with slots or sockets which open toward the rear end of the base. These slots are designated as 'l--l'and have blind socket forward ends.

The bow or jaw B consists of an open framelike member including the rodent engaging or hammer portion 8, side arms 9 and a transverse bottom web l0 which is provided with a slot IlY which separates the bait pan engaging cross piece I2 from the offset tongue portion I3 which is intended to be engaged by the baitpan when the trap is set to initiate movement of the bow or jaw. The web portion IQ of the bow or jaw is provided with the laterally extending pivot lugs I which engage in the socket ends of the slots 'I-l. Also, the side arms 9 of the bow are pro vided, eccentrically with reference to the pivots M, with the laterally offset anchoring lugs I5 for receiving an elastic member I5 whose intermediate portion is preferably located in the slot ll at the under side of the base.

The jaw actuator is designated generally as C and preferably includes a bait pan il having a suitable impaling portion and a bow actuating or trigger portion i8. Intermediate the por-A tions I 'I and i3 the member C is provided with opposite pairs of upstanding lugs IS-IS for engaging and interlocking with the cross piece I2 of the web lil. Y

In practice, the base A, bow or jaw B and actuator C including the combined trigger and bait pan, are made according to suitable manufacturing practices and the unit C is assembled with the bow B by reason of the fact that the upstanding pairs of lugs Ill-I9 engage and interlock with the cross piece I 2 of the web. When thus interlocked, the bow or jaw is ready to have its pivot lugs I4 inserted in the socket ends of the slots 1. When this part of the assembly is completed, it is only necessary to assemble the elastic member D in place. This elastic member is preferably a rubber band I 6 whose looped ends may be fitted around the lugs I5 on the arms 9, while the intermediate portion of the band may be fitted in the keeper groove 4 at the under side of the base. It will, of course, be understood that the elastic member D may be a spring instead of a rubber band but the vlatter is preferable because of its ready availability and its ease of application.

When the parts are assembled as above set forth, it will be apparent that all of the moving parts of the trap are held in assembled position without the aid of any fastenings whatever. The pull of the elastic member D toward the front end of the base holds the bow B as well as the actuator C including the bait pan assembled to the base because the actuator is interlocked with the bow and positioned between the same and the base.

When it is desired to set the trap, it is only necessary to move the bow B toward the rear end E of the base. 'I'he bow will stay in the set position due to the fact that the elastic member D is connected eccentrically to the arms of the bow. In other words, when the bow is in its rearward set position the lugs I5 will be on the rear side of the pivots I4 and the spring or elastic member D will hold the bow down toward .the rear of the base. In this position, the tongue I3 of the bow overlies the trigger portion I8 of the actuator or movement initiator C which is loosely interlocked therewith. The bait carrying portion II of the bait pan is bent at an angle, or elevated as shown in Figure 2, with respect to the trigger I8. Accordingly, when an animal or rodent tugs or pulls at the bait on the pan, the same will be either raised or depressed by the rodent which will cause the trigger portion I8 to press upwardly against the tongue I 3 of the bow. This movement will initiate upward movement of the bow to spring the trap. Obviously, as soon as upward movement of the bow or jaw B results in the side portions of the rubberrband D rising above the pivots I4, the Vbow will be snapped toward the front end of the trap, and the hamn mer portion 8 will descend toward the anvil portion of the base to catch the rodent.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a trap whose parts may be readily assembled and disconnected by simply positioning and removing the elastic member D, and which may be readily set by simply moving the bow backwardly without the aid of any special locking device. When the rodent depresses the bait pan, the trigger portion I8 of the actuator will initiate movement of the bow under spring tension and consequently snap the bow forwardly to trap the rodent. All of the elastic force or spring pull is toward the forward end of the base and performs the dual function of trapping the rodent and holding all of the parts in assembled position.

In the modification shown in Figures 9 and 10, all of the essential features and characteristics shown in Figure l are preserved, the only substantial difference being in the change in position of the point of anchorage of the resilient member D to the bow or jaw B', The crossl piece I2 of the web I0 is provided with an angular or inclined extension I2a having the laterally offset lugs I5a which form a connection for one end of the elastic member D which is looped about the forward end of the base A and held in a groove or slot 4a. By positioning the lugs4 I5a at a greater distance from the front edge of the base A', it will be apparent that the elastic means D' is placed under greater tension and. therefore, imparts more power to the bow r jaw when it is snapped forward. Figures 9 and 10 also illustrate that the inner edge of the cross bar or hammer portion of the bow B' may have serrations which either are confined between the planes of the top and bottom faces of said bar or hammer portion, or which extend down.- wardly only slightly beyond the bottom face of said cross bar or hammer portion. Such serrations are not dangerous to a person setting vthe trap and do not penetrate or cause pain in a member of an animal which is caught in the trap. At the same time they serve effectively to prevent an animal which may be trapped from pulling itself out of the trap.

In Figures 11 and 12, the base A2 is in the form of a at sheet provided mediflly 0f its slide edges with the struck-up pivot elements 2.b and provided adjacent its forward end with the side notches 4b. The bow or 'jaw B2 has its side arms provided with the laterally projecting lugs I!) which provide an anchorage for one end o f the elastic member D2 which is held in the notches 4b. It will, of course, be understood thatv the lower ends of the side arms of the bow B2 are pivot-.- allyV mounted on the struck up lugs 2b. o f the base. The bait pan or trigger unit C2 includes am transverse portion IBD which extends s ubsutan.- tially across the base A2 to provide jaw actuating portions 20 adapted to lie at one side o f the side arms of the bow or jaw B2 as shown in Figure 1,1, The part Illb is held loosely pivoted to the base by the downwardly and inwardly turned lugs ZI so that it may have a slight pivotal or rocking movement on the base suflicient to tilt the jaw B2 when it is set and cause it to spring past center under the influence of the tensioned elasticv member D2. In this connection it will be ob-i served that the lugs 2| extend below the bottom of the base A2 and that they are engageable withv a surface on which the trap rests to SlllJDQlt the medial portion of the base slightly above sai@ surface. When the jaw B2 is in its setposition 75 shown in the drawings the preponderance of weight of the trap is rearwardly of the lugs 2l. Consequently, the rear end of the base A2 rests on the trap supporting surface and the forward end of said base is disposed above said surface. It follows, therefore, that the trap may be sprung not only by downward movement of the trigger C3 relative to the base A3, but also by downward movement of the forward end of the' base, since this latter movement will result in the lugs 2l, and consequently the trigger, being moved upward to initiate springing of the jaw B2.

Figures 113 and 14 illustrate an embodiment of the invention wherein the base A3 is formed with downturned side and end flanges,`the former being provided with notches 4c which provide a front anchorage for the elastic member D3. The bow or jaw B3 is preferably made of wire having the side arm portions 9C formed with the loops or eyes vllic which provide a point of connection for the elastic member D3 with the jaw. yThe lower ends of the arms 9c are provided with the inturned pivot portions Hlc which enter suitable openings in the side flanges of the base, thereby to pivotally mount the jaw on the base and also provide means for pivotally connecting the bait pan or trigger C3 with the base. The bait pan or trigger C3 is provided with a transverse portion I8c which includes the downturned anges 18d having the laterally offset jaw engaging lugs 22. When the trap is set, as shown in Figure 13, the side arms 9C of the jaw rest on the upper sides of the lug 22 and the bait pan is lifted at its forward end as shown in Figure 14. When the rodent weights down the forward end of the bait pan C3, the lugs 22 will shift the side arms of the jaw B3 upwardly and move them over center, so that the jaw will snap down against the forward end of the base.

In all of the foregoing modifications, it will be apparent that the essential features and characteristics of the invention are preserved, and the changes in detail illustrated constitute permissible variations of the underlying principles and features of the invention.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood, that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and Scope of the appended claims.

1. A trap including a base, a bow pivotally mounted on the base, elastic means connected to the b-ase and also connected to the bow eccentrically to its pivotal connection with the base whereby said bow may be held in its set position or shifted to and held in its sprung position, and a trigger loosely interconnected with the bow and held in assembly with the bow and the base by the bow and adapted to initiate movement of the bow from its set position.

2. A trap including a base formed with lugs on its upper face and having a transverse groove in its bottom face at one side of the lugs, a bow pivotally mounted in said lugs, a resilient member connected with the bow and held in said groove, and an actuating member interlocked with said bow and held in assembled relation to the base and bow by said resilient member.

3. A trap including a base provided with pivot slots therein, said pivot slots being blind at one end to provide sockets and having their open ends directed toward the rear of the base, a bow having offset pivot portions fitting in said sockets, an elastic member connected to said bow at a point eccentric to said offset pivot portions and anchored to the base at a point between the blind ends of the pivot slots and thefront of the base, and means for initiating movement of the bow when the elastic member is under tension.

4. A trap including a base, a bow pivotedto the Y base, an elastic member connected' with the bow eccentric to its pivot and also connected with the base adjacent the forward end thereof, and a bow actuating trigger detachably and pivotally engaged with said bow and held in assembly therewith between the bow and the base.

5. A trap including a base, a substantiallyb-ailshaped jaw member including a cross portion and side arms, the ends of the latter being pivotally connected to the base, elastic means connecting the side arm portions of the jaw between Ytheir free and their pivoted ends with thebase, and a bow releasing trigger pivotally connected with said bow and rockably engaging the base.

6. A trap comprising a base, a bow including a pair of side arms connected together at their outer ends and pivoted to the base at their inner ends, elastic means connected with said side arms between their outer ends and their points of pivotal connection with the base and extending forwardly from said arms and connected with the base forwardly of the pivots of said arms, and a trigger for initiating upward and forward swinging movement of said bow from a rearwardly swung position thereof in which its pivots are disposed above the line of pull of said elastic means.

7. A trap comprising a base, a bow pivotally engaged at one end with said base and separable therefrom by rearward movement relative to the base, elastic means connected with the base forwardly of the pivotal connection of the bow therewith and connected with said bow between its pivoted and free ends, whereby it maintains the bow assembled with the base and is effective to swing the bow forwardly and downwardly, said bow being swingable rearwardly to a position in which its pivotal axis is disposed above the line of pull of said elastic means, and a trigger for initiating upward and forward swinging movement of said bow from its last mentioned position.

8. A trap as set forth in claim 7 in which the trigger is rockably mounted against the base andV is separably connected with the bow and held by the latter in operative position between the bow and the base.

9. A trap as set forth in claim 6 in which the trigger is rockably mounted against the base and is retained in assembly with the trap by the bow.

l0. A trap as set forth in claim 6 in which the trigger is rockably mounted against the base and is provided with upstanding lugs engaging a portion of the bow, coaxial with its pivotal axis, whereby it is retained in assembly with the trap.

11. A trap as set forth in claim 6 in which the trigger is rockably mounted against the base and is separably connected with the bow at a -point coaxial with the pivotal axis of the bow and is retained in assembly with the trap by the bow and in which a portion of said trigger extends rearwardly of said pivotal axis to underlie a portion of the bow which is disposed rearwardly of said pivotal axis when the bow is in a rearwardly swung position.

l2. A trap comprising a base,.a bow pivoted at with the base forwardly of the pivotal Vaxis of saidbow and connected with'thebow between its pivoted and free ends, said bow being swingable rearwardly toa set position in which its pivotal axis `is disposed above the line of pull of said elastic means, av trigger rockably mounted on thebase for tilting movementto initiate upward swinging` movement of Vsaid bow from its rearwardly swung vset position, and lug means extending from said trigger Abelow the vbottom of the base whereby the trigger may be raised relativerto the lbase to initiate upward swinging movement o'f the bow 'from its set position by downward movement of the base.

13. A trap comprising a vbase, a Abow pivoted at one end to said vbase, elastic means connected to the base forwardly of the pivotal axis of said bow and connectedvwiththe bow between its pivoted and itsfree ends, said bow being 'rearwardly swingable toa position in which its 'pivotal axis is disposed above the line of pull of said elastic meansr and a trigger rockablyengaged with the base at vforwardly and rearwardly spaced points and having fa portion thereof zbetween said points underlying ;a, portionrfof the bow when thel latter is vin its vaforesaid rearwardly swung position whereby said :trigger is .effective .byeither upward or downward krocking movement to initiate up-` ward swinging-movement of the bow from its rearwardly swung position.

14. A trap comprising a base, a bow pivoted tofthe fbase, fan elastic tensioned Yelement vauf choredatits ends to opposite -side portions of said bow at points spaced `from the pivotal connections of the bow with :the base, the -intermediatefportion of Vsaid elastic :element -being disposedforwardly1of Ythepi-votal connections of the bow with the basefandzextending across the base and being anchored to Ythe latter, anda-trigger for initiating closing swinging movement; vof said bow from an open or -set position inrwhich its pivots vare disposed .above theflines Lof pull of the side portions of said lelastic element.

T15. A trapras set forth in claim 14 in which 20 the elasticelement comprises a rubber band. H. `ROY GRAY'BDJL. 

